Connected planter data sharing playthrough

ABSTRACT

Continued and precise operation of an agricultural implement exists even where a subsystem, such as a GPS receiver, wireless communicator, a sensor, or the like, fails, falters, or is otherwise unusable. Data is continually tracked to the extent possible during failure or faltering and is temporarily stored. To continue operations during periods of unavailability, a representation of planted ground is anticipated by other agricultural implements and/or calculated with agricultural data from other agricultural implements. Normal operations then continue until data sync can catch back up to real-time.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to provisionalpatent applications U.S. Ser. Nos. 62/704,284, 62/704,285, 63/018,833,63/019,032, all of which were filed May 1, 2020. The provisional patentapplications are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties,including without limitation, the specification, claims, and abstract,as well as any figures, tables, appendices, or drawings thereof

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to computerized methods,systems, and apparatuses for predicting, tracking, and/or harmonizingagricultural data among several connected agricultural implementscapable of communicating information in substantially real-time. Evenmore particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates toa sharing playthrough for connected planter data to mitigate situationswhere one or more inputs or subsystems are hindered and/or temporarilyunavailable on at least one of the agricultural implements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The background description provided herein gives context for the presentdisclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, as well as aspects ofthe description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the timeof filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art.

Agricultural implements perform a variety of agricultural operations.For example, an agricultural row crop planter is a machine built forprecisely distributing seed into the ground. The row crop plantergenerally includes a horizontal toolbar fixed to a hitch assembly fortowing behind a tractor or other implement. Row units are mounted to thetoolbar. In different configurations, seed may be stored at individualhoppers on each row unit, or it may be maintained in a central hopperand delivered to the row units on an as needed basis. The row unitsinclude ground-working tools for opening and closing a seed furrow, anda seed metering system for distributing seed to the seed furrow.

In its most basic form, the seed meter includes a housing, a seed disk,and a seed chute. The housing is constructed such that it creates areservoir to hold a seed pool. The seed disk resides within the housingand rotates about a generally horizontal central axis. As the seed diskrotates, it passes through the seed pool where it picks up individualseeds. The seeds are subsequently dispensed into the seed chute wherethey drop into the seed furrow. The seed meters are given a locationalong a toolbar of a planter, and the location determines at least somefunctionality of the meter.

Over the years, improvements to components on the planters, includingactuators (hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, or a combination thereof),sensors, data handling systems, location systems, communication systems,lighting systems, and other systems capable of controlling functions ofthe planter, have increasingly automated the planter. As a result,components of the planter now rarely perform their respective functionsin isolation. Rather, and for example, the accuracy of a location systemmay rely on not only GPS, but on other sensors located on the planter.These same location systems might then help determine which, when, andto what degree certain actuators should be engaged, and so forth.

In some agricultural implements, the degree to which the components areinterrelated and automated are so great the agricultural implement canbe considered mostly or even fully autonomous, requiring little to nohuman input in order to operate. Farmers have thus been presented withnew hurdles.

Planters planting the same field are sharing data in real-time. Onoccasion, delivery of the planting data can be delayed. These delays cancome from difficulty sending, congestion on the data storage backend, ordifficulty receiving by the communication partner. Because the farmer isdirecting planting operations (manually or with auto shutoffs) based onavoiding already planted ground, it is important to have accurate andtimely knowledge of where planting has occurred.

Thus, there now exists a need in the art for improved methods, systems,and apparatuses on or in use with an agricultural implement to providean accurate-as-possible representation of planted ground so as tocontinue normal operations until data sync can catch back up toreal-time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object, feature, and/or advantage of the presentinvention to improve on or overcome the deficiencies in the art. Thefollowing objects, features, advantages, aspects, and/or embodiments,are not exhaustive and do not limit the overall disclosure. No singleembodiment need provide each and every object, feature, or advantage.Any of the objects, features, advantages, aspects, and/or embodimentsdisclosed herein can be integrated with one another, either in full orin part.

It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of thepresent invention to predict where shared planting is likely to occurand to provide a control system for mitigating double planting. Thecontrol system should treat computerized agricultural data and includeappropriate graphic representations of real-time and historicalplanting.

It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of thepresent invention to track which portions of the agricultural data beingused have been sensed or provided by native implements or by thoseremote implements sharing data in real-time. It is still yet a furtherobject, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to moreefficiently track the progress of agricultural tasks data performed bysystems with more than one agricultural implement.

It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of thepresent invention to use historical and/or sensed information toanticipate planting requirements and/or expected productivity.Anticipated results and/or data can be replaced with actual data afterplanting.

It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of thepresent invention to avoid using inexact approximations as much aspossible. Where inexact approximations must be made, data based on thesame should be marked accordingly, such as through the use of more data(e.g. tags) and/or with accompanying metadata.

It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of thepresent invention to intuitively view and easily identify predictivedata when used.

It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of thepresent invention to store and access agricultural data at a locationremote of the agricultural implement, such as in a cloud-based storagesystem.

The computerized methods and systems disclosed herein can be used in awide variety of agricultural operations, including planting, tilling,baling, harvesting, spraying, transporting, cultivating, harrowing,plowing, fertilizing, broadcasting, loading, unloading, and the like.Some aspects of the computerized methods and systems disclosed hereinmay even have use in other industries which rely heavily oncommunications and/or navigation, such as the automotive, nautical,and/or aerospace industries.

It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage to supportinternet of things (IoT) and other environments in which information,data, or the like is transmitted efficiently with higher speed andhigher bandwidth.

It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of thepresent invention to provide safe, cost effective, and reliable outcomesfor farmers using the computerized methods disclosed herein.

It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of thepresent invention to display aspects of the computerized methodsdisclosed herein with distinct aesthetic features, including, but notlimited to, maps, tables, and other text or images which otherwiseenhance interfacing with electronics of the agricultural implement. Forexample, the user experience can be enhanced or otherwise furtherfacilitated by means of a graphical user interface which presents theuser with intuitive controls and/or automatically alerts an operator ofthe agricultural implement to potential problems and/or to prompt theoperator for manual input, such as where potential problems cannot beresolved automatically. By way of another example, graphical userinterfaces can be tailored to intuitively, such as by comparison, andsimultaneously, such as in a compact space, show more than one data set.

It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of thepresent invention to practice computerized methods which facilitate use,manufacture, assembly, maintenance, and repair of an agriculturalimplement accomplishing some or all of the previously stated objectives.

It is still yet a further object, feature, and/or advantage of thepresent invention to incorporate a computerized method into electronicapparatuses or agricultural systems accomplishing some or all of thepreviously stated objectives. Unit(s) of the agricultural system can bepartially or fully autonomous.

According to some aspects of the present disclosure, a method ofcommunicating, in real-time, agricultural data associated with theagricultural characteristics between a first agricultural implement anda second agricultural implement. In times where at least one aspect ofthe second agricultural implement becomes unavailable, a non-transitorycomputer readable medium located on the first agricultural implement isable to interpolate anticipated agricultural data associated with thesecond agricultural implement. The second agricultural implement is thenable to rely, at least in part, on a sharing playthrough including atleast some of the anticipated agricultural data for continued operationof the second agricultural implement.

According to some other aspects of the present disclosure, acomputerized system for use with an agricultural implement comprises anavigation system, a transmitter capable of employing at least onecommunication protocol and connecting to a network, a sensor for sensingone or more agricultural characteristics, and a non-transitory computerreadable medium comprising a processor, a memory, an operating system,and a compiler. The non-transitory computer readable medium isconfigured, e.g. by way of appropriate hardware and/or softwarecomponents, to carry out computerized method steps related to theperformance of agricultural tasks and/or handling agricultural data.

These and/or other objects, features, advantages, aspects, and/orembodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art afterreviewing the following brief and detailed descriptions of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view tractor.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a planter.

FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of the tug unit with the planter.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an implement (planter) control system.

FIG. 5 is another schematic emphasizing further aspects of the implementcontrol system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing components of the implement control system.

FIG. 7 illustrates, schematically, a hardware environment emphasizingcomputing components of an exemplary intelligent control, such as atablet with a touch-screen display.

FIG. 8 depicts layered data, including that data which is storable indatabase(s) and/or accessible by way of an agricultural data module, soas to facilitate viewing, analyzing, and/or performing agriculturaltasks with said data.

FIG. 9 exemplifies a cloud computing environment.

FIG. 10 exemplifies a cloud computing node.

FIG. 11 illustrates the communication of information, such as a drivepath, for an associated geographic region.

FIG. 12 shows multiple planters operating in a field with the fieldparsed into geographic regions.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of a master module for use with an agriculturalsystem having several agricultural implements, vehicles, and/or units.

FIG. 14 displays a graphical user interface depicting a planter movingthrough a field.

FIG. 15 displays a graphical user interface depicting a “hallway view”which shows aspects of planting during a period of unavailability.

FIG. 16 displays a graphical user interface depicting the use ofagricultural data to predict at least one aspect of an agricultural taskperformed during a period of unavailability.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart depicting steps of a control system for usingthe agricultural data to predict at least one aspect of an agriculturaltask performed during a period of unavailability where multipleimplements are paired and/or sharing data.

Several embodiments in which the present invention can be practiced areillustrated and described in detail, wherein like reference charactersrepresent like components throughout the several views. The drawings arepresented for exemplary purposes and may not be to scale unlessotherwise indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Introductory Matters

The following definitions and introductory matters are provided tofacilitate an understanding of the present invention. Unless definedotherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the samemeaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art towhich embodiments of the present invention pertain.

The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include both singular and pluralreferents.

The term “or” is synonymous with “and/or” and means any one member orcombination of members of a particular list.

The terms “invention” or “present invention” as used herein are notintended to refer to any single embodiment of the particular inventionbut encompass all possible embodiments as described in the specificationand the claims.

The term “about” as used herein refers to slight variations in numericalquantities with respect to any quantifiable variable. One of ordinaryskill in the art will recognize inadvertent error can occur, forexample, through use of typical measuring techniques or equipment orfrom differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of components.The claims include equivalents to the quantities whether or not modifiedby the term “about.”

The term “configured” describes structure capable of performing a taskor adopting a particular configuration. The term “configured” can beused interchangeably with other similar phrases, such as constructed,arranged, adapted, manufactured, and the like.

Terms characterizing sequential order, a position, and/or an orientationare referenced according to the views presented. Unless contextindicates otherwise, these terms are not limiting.

In communications and computing, a computer readable medium is a mediumcapable of storing data in a format readable by a mechanical device. Theterm “non-transitory” is used herein to refer to computer readable media(“CRM”) that store data for short periods or in the presence of powersuch as a memory device.

One or more embodiments described herein can be implemented usingprogrammatic modules, engines, or components. A programmatic module,engine, or component can include a program, a sub-routine, a portion ofa program, or a software component or a hardware component capable ofperforming one or more stated tasks or functions. A module or componentcan exist on a hardware component independently of other modules orcomponents. Alternatively, a module or component can be a shared elementor process of other modules, programs, or machines.

Mechanical, electrical, chemical, procedural, and/or other changesapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Overview

FIG. 1 shows a tractor 100 used to deliver high torque at slow speeds,for the purposes of hauling machinery used in agriculture. The tractor100 includes a cab 101 with a steering wheel 102 and a seat 103 for anoperator. The tractor 100 also includes a vehicle frame 104 which housesan engine (not shown) located near the front axle of the tractor 100 andin front of the cab 101. The cab 101 and vehicle frame 104 aresupported, structurally, by the tractor's chassis 105, which attaches torear drivable wheels 106 and front steerable wheels 107, said frontsteerable wheels 107 operationally connected to the steering wheel 102.An exhaust pipe 108 allows carbon monoxide to exit the tractor 100during operation of the engine (not shown). A tractor hitch 109 allowsfor connection between agricultural machinery and the tractor 100.

FIG. 2 shows a planter 110 used to plant and fertilize seed in acontrolled manner. For example, the planter 110 as shown in FIG. 2includes a tongue 112, preferably telescoping. The tongue 112 includes afirst end 114 with an implement hitch 116 for attaching to a towvehicle, such as the tractor 100. The opposite end of the tongue 112 isattached to a frame or central toolbar 118. Draft links 120 areconnected between the central toolbar 118 and the tongue 112 and areused in conjunction with folding actuators 122 to fold the centraltoolbar 118 in a frontward manner. Therefore, the tongue 112 maybe atelescoping tongue in that it can extend or track to allow for the frontfolding of the central toolbar 118. The central toolbar 118 includesfirst and second wings 130, 134 extending therefrom. The central toolbar118 includes central hoppers 124 which contain seed or other granulesused with planting. A plurality of transport wheels 128 also areconnected to the central toolbar 118. The first and second wings 130,134 are generally mere images of one another. The wings include firstand second wing toolbars 132, 135. Attached along the central toolbar118 as well as the first and second wing toolbar 132, 135, are aplurality of row units 140. The row units include seed meters 142 and/orother components used for planting and fertilizing seed in a controlledmanner. Also connected to the first and second wings 130, 134 are firstand second markers 133, 136. The markers include actuators 137 which areused to raise and lower the markers 133, 136. The markers 133, 136 canbe lowered to provide guidance for the edge of a planter for use inplanting. When not required, the markers can be lifted to a position asthat shown in FIG. 2 to move the markers out of the way.

Also shown in FIG. 2 are a plurality of fans 126 as well as a pluralityof wheels 138. The wings may also include actuators 131 to raise andlower or otherwise provide a downward force on the wings. Therefore, asis shown in FIG. 2, there are a multiplicity of components of theplanting implement 110. The components may include moving parts, such asthe actuators used to move the wings, markers, row units, etc., whilealso providing additional functions. For example, the fans 126 are usedto provide a pressure in the seed meters 142 to aid in adhering seed toa seed disk moving therein. The seed meters may be electrically drivenin that a motor, such as a stepper motor, can be used to rotate the seedmeters to aid in adhering seed thereto and to provide for dispensing ofthe seed in a controlled manner for ideal spacing, population, and/orplacement. Other features may include actuators or other mechanisms forproviding down force to the row units 140. Lights may also be includedas part of the planter. Finally, an air seed delivery system may beprovided between the central hoppers 124 and any plurality of seedmeters 142 on the row units 140 in that the air seed delivery systemprovides a continued flow of seed to the row units on an as neededmanner to allow for the continuous planting of the seed via the seedmeters on the row units. Thus, the various controls of the planter mayrequire or otherwise be aided by the use of an implement control system.The implement control system can aid in controlling each of thefunctions of the implement or planter 110 so as to allow for theseamless or near seamless operation with the implement, and alsoprovides for the communication and/or transmission of data, status, andother information between the components.

As shown in FIG. 3, the planter 110 can also be pulled by aself-propelled, autonomous tug unit 146, rather than an operator-drivenvehicle, such as the tractor 100, such as the one shown and described inco-owned U.S. Pat. No. 10,575,453, which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety. The rear drivable wheels 106 and frontsteerable wheels 107 can be substituted for tracks 148, regardless ofwhether said tracks 148 are implemented on an operator-driven vehicle ora self-propelled vehicle.

The amount of information being transmitted between the tractor and thecomponents of the planter are ever growing and includes high traffic.Currently, any transmission of the information is done with lowbandwidth, poorly defined protocol, and also includes compatibilityissues among the various components of the tractor and/or implements.Therefore, issues have emerged, and new type have developed for a systemincluding a high traffic mix, low latency, high security, highreliability, high throughput, common supply chain, and highly ruggedsystem to allow for the operation of the implement and to aid incontrolling the various components on or associated with the implement.Therefore, as well be understood, the present disclosure provides forsolutions to meet said emerging requirements, which can includeruggedization and/or input/output (I/O) complements. The solution hasbeen developed with standard protocols and components with adjacentopportunities in mind. The result becomes an intelligent internet ofthings based solution supporting a unique complement of functions andinput/output features.

Therefore, FIG. 4 discloses an implement control system 150 according toaspects of the present disclosure. As is shown in the figure, somecomponents of the implement control system 150 may be included not onthe implement itself. For example, the implement control system as shownin the figure includes an intelligent control 152, which, for example,can employ a touch-screen display. Examples of such intelligent controls152 may be tablets, telephones, handheld devices, laptops, userdisplays, or other computing devices capable of allowing input,providing options, and showing output of electronic functions. Stillfurther examples include a microprocessor, a microcontroller, anothersuitable programmable device, other components implemented partially orentirely on a semiconductor (e.g., a field-programmable gate array(“FPGA”) chip, such as a chip developed through a register transferlevel (“RTL”) design process).

The intelligent control 152 may be attached to or otherwise associatedwith an intelligent router unit 154. The intelligent router unit 154 canbe included, but is not required in all instances. For example, when theintelligent control 152 is a tablet, the intelligent control 152 may notinclude the desired number of connections, inputs, and/or outputcapabilities. Therefore, the intelligent router 154 can be included toconnect to the intelligent control 152 to provide additional inputs,outputs, and/or other connectivity to the intelligent control 152. Theintelligent control 152 and/or intelligent router 154 can be remote ofan implement, such as a planter 110. As shown in FIG. 4, the combinationof the intelligent control 152 and intelligent router 154 are shown tobe in the tractor 100 or other tow vehicle. When the intelligent control152 is a tablet, the member can be positioned within the cab of atractor to allow for the input and output to be shown on a displaytherein, such that an operator can view and interact with said displaywhile in the tractor 100. However, it is to be appreciated that thecontrol unit can be used generally anywhere remote of the plantingimplement.

Such a display can be, for example, a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), alight-emitting diode (“LED”) display, an organic LED (“OLED”) display,an electroluminescent display (“ELD”), a surface-conductionelectron-emitter display (“SED”), a field emission display (“FED”), athin-film transistor (“TFT”) LCD, or a reflective bistable cholestericdisplay (i.e., e-paper).

FIG. 4 also shows components of the implement control system 150, whichmay be shown as part of the planter 110 or other implement. For example,some components may include an intelligent planter router (“IPR”) 156,which can also be referred to as a planter personality module and is atype of intelligent implement router or intelligent router member. TheIPR 156, as will be disclosed herein, provides for programmability tothe planter, while also providing for connectivity to components andcontrols for various aspects of the planter. For example, the IPR 156can include an intelligent control feature or member (central processingunit or the like) which can be programmed to provide information relatedto the planter 110. This can include the number of rows on a planter,type of planter, type of pressure for the seed meters, type of seedmeters, number of seed meters, and generally any other informationassociated with the planter such that the information may be utilized tooperate the functionality of the planter. Such programming of the IPR156 can be done during manufacture of the planter, such as buildingthereof. Therefore, the IPR 156 can be programmed on an as-built basisto provide such information that can be transmitted with the othercomponents of the implement control system 150. However, theconfiguration of the IPR 156 will provide information embedded in theCPU thereof during manufacture to provide options and settings forinteraction with the other components of the implement control system150. The IPR 156 can be connected to a plurality of intelligent planternodes 258 which may be generically referred to as intelligent nodes orotherwise intelligent implement nodes.

The intelligent planter nodes (IPN) 158 can be used both for at the rowunits of a planter and/or for axillary functions of the planter. Asshown in FIG. 4, the IPN 158 can be positioned at each row unit of theplanter such that an IPN can be broken down by IPN row one, IPN row twoall the way and up to IPN row N, wherein it is equal to the number ofrow units associated with the planter. Likewise, when the IPN 158 isused with an axillary function of the planter, the number of IPN'sassociated with the planter can be determined based on the number ofaxillary functions associated with the planter itself.

Still further, the implement control system 158 as shown in FIG. 4includes a plurality of intelligent planter positioners (IPP) 160,generically referred to as intelligent positioning members orintelligent implement positioning members. The IPP 160, as will bedisclosed herein can be utilized with each of the nodes or with anynumber of functions or components of the planter 110 to provide foradditional information associated with the components. This can includethe movement, location, or other data that can be collected via the IPP160 that can be utilized and transmitted to the various components ofthe implement control system, such as the user display of theintelligent control 152.

FIG. 5 shows another schematic of the implement control system 150according to aspects of the present disclosure. The schematic shown inFIG. 5 is similar to that shown and described in FIG. 4. For example,the implement control system 150 shown in FIG. 5 includes an intelligentcontrol 152 in the form of a display/CPU member. The display/CPU memberis connected to an IPR 154. An Ethernet connection 162 can be utilizedto connect the display to the implement IPR 156. The use of Ethernetconnection allows for high speed, high band width transmission ofinformation between the components. Ethernet protocol allows for highspeed, high speed bandwidth wherein a large amount of data can betransmitted between two components connected via the Ethernet connectionin a manner that has not to date been realized in the agriculturalindustry. Therefore, the use of the Ethernet in the implement controlsystem 150 provides for a much greater transmission in communication ofdata in a high-speed manner. The IPR is shown to have three Ethernetconnections extending therefrom. These include an Ethernet left 163, andEthernet right 164 and Ethernet axillary 165. The Ethernet left 163connections is showing the Ethernet connection to the left wing of aplanter 110, and is shown to be connected to a number of IPNs 158 whichare associated with the row units 140 attached to and or on the leftwing of the planter. Similarly, the Ethernet right connection 164 isconnected to a plurality of IPNs that are associated with a number ofrow units attached or associated with a right wing of the planter 110.However, it should be appreciated that the number of IPNs 158 utilizedand the delegation of the right and left are for exemplary purposesonly, and are should not be limiting to the present disclosure. Finally,the Ethernet axillary connection 165 is connecting the IPR 156 to aplurality of IPNs 158 associated with axillary functions of the planter110. While two IPNs 158 are connected via the Ethernet axillary, it isto be appreciated that this is for exemplary purposes only, and is notto be limiting on the present disclosure either.

Therefore, for exemplary purposes, the Ethernet left connection 163associated with the IPNs 158 can be described as follows. The IPNs 158are connected to a number of sensors, motors, and other controls inwhich the IPNs 158 transmit information between each other and the IPR156 in order to control functions of the components thereon. Forexample, one IPN 158 is connected to a seed meter motor 166, insecticideflow center 167, seed sensor 168, manual run button 169, insecticidemotor control 170, and liquid fertilizer sensor 171. Such motor andsensors are generally associated with a row unit and/or seed meter of aplanter. Therefore, the IPN 158 is connected to the components andoperates with the IPR 156 in order to control the functionality of thevarious components. A different IPN 158 connected to the Ethernet leftconnection 163 includes connection to vacuum solenoids 184, work lights185, vacuum sensors 186, work switches 187, and pneumatic down pressure(PDP) 188. Likewise, a different IPN 158 connected to the Ethernet rightconnection 164 includes connection to vacuum solenoids 184, work lights185, vacuum sensors 186, work switches 187, and marker solenoids 189.These are also functions associated with the wing and control ofcomponents thereon. Therefore, the additional IPN 158 will includeconnections and control of the functions associated with thesecomponents. The Ethernet axillary connection 165 is shown to beconnected to additional components. For example, the IPNs 158 associatedwith the Ethernet axillary connection 165 include components of wingwheel solenoids 172, axle solenoids 174, wing solenoids 175, field coils176, alternator sensors 177, temperature sensors 178, air seed deliverycontrols 179, hitch solenoids 180, jump start controls 182 andfertilizer controls 183. Such controls, sensors, and the like areassociated with other aspects of the planter and control thereof. Thisallows for the use of the planter and the acquisition of data associatedwith the varying controls.

Therefore, the IPNs 158 are in communication with the IPR 156 to providethe controls for the associated components of the IPNs 158. This willallow for the control of the planter in a higher speed and higher banwith manner, such that the controls will be passing a higher amount ofdata between the IPNs 158 and the IPR 156. Furthermore, the use of theimplement control system 150 as shown and described will provideadditional benefits and improvements. Such benefits may include a typeof plug-n-play system. Currently, each row unit includes a node orcontrol board that is specifically programmed for the location of therow unit in relation to the planter, type of seed meter used with theplanter and other factors in which the node is specifically tailored toand tied down to a specific location. Aspects of the present disclosureallow for the IPNs 158 to be near universal and function to allow forthe IPN 158 to be connected to an IPR 156 in which the IPN 158 will thenbecome programmed to provide any number of functional capabilities.These functional capabilities can then be transmitted to the userdisplay to allow for an operator to interact with the IPN 158 on how itshould act, react or otherwise function in relation to the othercomponents of the implement control system 150.

For example, the IPR 156 can be programmed during manufacture, aspreviously disclosed. This can include information related to theplanter, such as number of row units type of seed delivery mechanism,type of down force providing, type of pressure to the seed meters,and/or any other factors that can be varied according to a plantingimplement. The IPNs 158 can be attached to the planter wherein the IPR156 can transmit this information to the IPN 158 via the high speed,high bandwidth Ethernet connections to provide information related tothe planter to the IPN 158. The IPN 158 can then recognize othercomponents connected thereto and can provide functional options to anoperator via the user display to allow for the operator to input desiredoutcomes, controls, parameters, or other inputs to allow the IPN 158 toactively control components connected thereto based on said inputs. Thisquick plug-n-play style programming allows for the IPNs 158 to beessentially un-programmed until connected to an IPR number. The blankprogramming of the IPN 158 will allow for the quick association of theIPN 158 with components connected thereto to allow for the control ofsaid components regardless of any preprogramming. This is advantageousin that it saves time, cost, and other problems associated withspecifically programming a control board with the functionality ofcomponents that it will be attached to.

FIG. 6 shows another diagram of the implement control system explainingsome of the components thereof. As disclosed, an intelligent control 152can take the form of a tablet, monitor, user interface, or othercomputing device. As shown in FIG. 6, the display can be a touch screenmonitor providing a user interface with inputs and outputs and having anEthernet input with a mounting bar dock. As mentioned, if the requiredinput and outputs are not associated with a display unit, an IPR 156 orother routing mechanism that does include the desired input and outputconnectivity can be associated with the display unit. The intelligentcontrol 152 is connected via Ethernet connection 162 to an IPR 156.According to aspects of the disclosure, at least one, or one or moreIPRs 156 may be used with each planter. For example, one IPR 156 may beused with a planter according to some embodiments. However, additionalembodiments include a planter with more than one IPR 156, such as two,three, or more. IPR route data from an IPN 158 to the display, storesplanter configuration information, interfaces with the display, and canprovide other controlling or otherwise be the brain function of animplement. Connected to the IPR via Ethernet connection is a pluralityof IPNs 158. The IPNs 158 are connected to components of a planter orother mechanism to control said components. For example, the IPNs 158,one connected to a planter, can drive seed motors, collect data fromseed sensors, activate solenoids, and or otherwise communicate with theIPR 156 via Ethernet connection. Also shown in the diagram of FIG. 6 isa IPP 160. A plurality of IPP 160 can be positioned throughout theplanter to provide positioning data for the planter and componentsthereof The IPP 160 can detect component position, sense forward andreverse direction, and otherwise sense heading of the planter and/orcomponents thereof. For example, when an IPP 160 is positioned on amarker 133, 136, the information collected by the IPP 160 can providesubstantially exact location of the marker 133, 136 between a stored anda use configuration. This is highly advantageous over the currentsetting which and only allows knowledge or information that the marker133, 136 is being lowered or raised, but does not show exactconfiguration thereof. The IPP 160 can also collect additionalinformation and be an inertial unit that can provide highly accuratelocation information such that the data can be collected during plantingto provide location information related with an event. Such informationcan be associated with the planting of a seed, the location of anobstacle, the location of start and ending, and generally any otherlocation or directional information that may be associated with anevent.

Internal mechanical and electrical components which can, for example,make up the IPR 156, IPN 158, and IPP 160 are described in co-owned U.S.Pat. No. 10,952,365, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

FIG. 7 illustrates, schematically, a hardware environment emphasizingcomputing components of an exemplary intelligent control 152, such as atablet or other type of display unit with a touch-screen display.

The intelligent control 152 includes memory 190, which has a programstorage area and/or data storage area. The memory 190 comprises eitherread-only memory (“ROM”, an example of non-volatile memory, meaning itdoes not lose data when it is not connected to a power source) or randomaccess memory (“RAM”, an example of volatile memory, meaning it willlose its data when not connected to a power source). Examples ofvolatile memory include static RAM (“SRAM”), dynamic RAM (“DRAM”),synchronous DRAM (“SDRAM”), etc. Examples of non-volatile memory includeelectrically erasable programmable read only memory (“EEPROM”), flashmemory, hard disks, SD cards, etc.

A central processing unit 192, such as a processor, a microprocessor, ora microcontroller, is connected to the memory 190 and is capable ofexecuting software instructions that stored in the memory 190. Thecentral processing unit 192 is the electronic circuit which performsoperations on some external data source, such as the memory 192 or someother data stream. The central processing unit 192 performs the basicarithmetic, logic, controlling, and input/output (“I/O”) operationsspecified by the instructions.

As shown in FIG. 7, aspects of the intelligent control 152, includingcomputer hardware and software resources of the modules 202, 204, 206,are managed by an operating system 194 stored in the memory 190. Moreparticularly, a compiler 196 allows a software application written in aprogramming language such as COBOL, C++, FORTRAN, or any other knownprogramming language to be translated into code to be read by thecentral processing unit 192. After completion, the central processingunit 192 accesses and manipulates data stored in the memory of thenon-transitory computer readable medium using the relationships andlogic dictated by the software application and generated using thecompiler 196. In one embodiment, the software application and thecompiler are tangibly embodied in the intelligent control 152. When theinstructions are read and executed by the central processing unit 192,the intelligent control 152 performs the steps necessary to implementand/or use the present invention. A software application, operatinginstructions, and/or firmware (semi-permanent software programmed intoread-only memory) may also be tangibly embodied in the memory 190,agricultural data module 202, analytics module 204, ag task module 206,and/or data communication devices (e.g., communication module 198),thereby making any software application disclosed herein a product orarticle of manufacture according to the present invention.

The communications module 198 is capable of connecting the intelligentcontrol 152 to a network 200, such as a cloud-computing network 200A,and/or systems of interconnected networks, such as the Internet 200B. Insome embodiments, the intelligent control 152 and/or communicationsmodule 198 can include one or more communications ports such asEthernet, serial advanced technology attachment (“SATA”), universalserial bus (“USB”), or integrated drive electronics (“IDE”), fortransferring, receiving, or storing data. In other embodiments, asoftware licensing and delivery model usable in connection with thecloud-computing network 200A can be software as a service (“SaaS”),infrastructure as a service (“IaaS”), platform as a service (“PaaS”),desktop as a service (“DaaS”), a managed service provider, mobilebackend as a service (“MBaaS”), or information technology management asa service (“ITMaaS”).

The agricultural data module 202 includes the necessary hardware and/orsoftware components and/or is electrically connected to other computingcomponents such that the intelligent control 152 can more efficientlystore, manage, and transmit agricultural data 208.

As shown in FIG. 8, the agricultural data 208 can be categorized and/orseparated into layers 208-1 . . . 208-N. For example, a first layer208-1 of the agricultural data 208 can comprise planting informationsuch as (a) an instruction to plant or not to plant; (b) seed and/orfertilizer type; (c) seed spacing; and (d) depth of planting. Forexample, a second layer 208-2 of the agricultural data 208 can compriseplanting efficiency information such as (a) singulation (including skipsand/or doubles); (b) fertilizer rates; (c) insecticide rates; (d) groundcontact rates; (e) downforce rates; and (0 population rates. Forexample, a third layer 208-3 of the agricultural data 208 can comprisetime, geospatial, and/or weather forecast information such as (a) timeof day; (b) air temperature; (c) season; (d) a weather condition; and/or(e) geospatial coordinates. For example, a fourth layer 208-4 (notshown) of the agricultural data 208 can comprise vehicle informationsuch as (a) heading, such as a direction or bearing, of the implementand/or tow vehicle; (b) velocity or speed of the implement and/or towvehicle; (c) fuel level of one or more fuel tanks on the implementand/or tow vehicle; and/or (d) technical capabilities of the implementand/or tow vehicle. For example, a fifth layer 208-5 (not shown) of theagricultural data 208 can comprise soil information such as (a) moisturecontent; (b) compaction; (c) ground temperature; (d) elevation; (e)depth; (f) slope of terrain; and/or (g) soil composition. Symbols and/orvalues for the agricultural data 208 can be displayed via graphical userinterface 216 (as particularly shown in FIGS. 14-16). The agriculturaldata 208 can be designated as historical data, temporary data, livedata, anticipated data, predictive data, or the like.

Referring back to FIG. 7, the agricultural data module 202 can work intandem with the memory 190 to store and/or access the agricultural data208. The agricultural data module 202 can also work in tandem with thecommunication module 198 to communicate agricultural data 208 amongseveral different computing devices 152A-152N, which can be located onremote agricultural implements 110, and even across agriculturalimplements of varying types 110A-110N, as shown in FIG. 9. Theagricultural data module 202 can also work in tandem with thecommunication module 198 to communicate agricultural data 208 amongseveral distinct networks 200, as shown in FIG. 10. A non-exhaustivelist of exemplary networks include: a wide area network (“WAN”) such asa TCP/IP based network or a cellular network, a local area network(“LAN”), a neighborhood area network (“NAN”), a home area network(“HAN”), and a personal area network (“PAN”). Some networks 200 willallow communication between the communication module 198 and the centrallocation during moments of low-quality connections. Communicationsthrough the networks 200 can be protected using one or more encryptiontechniques, such as those techniques provided in the IEEE 802.1 standardfor port-based network security, pre-shared key, ExtensibleAuthentication Protocol (“EAP”), Wired Equivalent Privacy (“WEP”),Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (“TKIP”), Wi-Fi Protected Access(“WPA”), and the like.

For example and with respect to FIG. 9, an illustrative cloud computingenvironment 200A includes one or more cloud computing nodes 158CC withwhich local computing devices used by cloud consumers. The computingdevices can include, for example, personal digital assistant (“PDA”) orcellular telephone 152A, desktop computer 152B, laptop computer 152C,and/or any suitable other type of computer systems 152N. Cloud computingnodes 158CC will communicate with one another and may be groupedphysically or virtually, in one or more networks, such as private,community, public, or hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or acombination thereof. This allows cloud computing environment 200A tooffer infrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which acloud consumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 152A-Nshown in FIG. 9 are intended to be illustrative only and that computingnodes 158CC and cloud computing environment 200A can communicate withany type of computerized device over any type of network and/or networkaddressable connection (e.g., using a web browser). In other words, thepresent disclosure non-limitingly refers to a cloud-based server; a meshand/or direct wireless connected device could also be employed inaddition to the cloud-based server or in lieu thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a set of functional abstraction layersprovided by cloud computing environment 200A (FIG. 9) is shown. Itshould be understood in advance that the components, layers, andfunctions shown in FIG. 10 are intended to be illustrative only andembodiments of the invention are not limited thereto. As depicted, thefollowing layers and corresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 218 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include: implement computingdevices 152N; servers 220; storage devices 222; networking components,including network towers 224 and network signals 226; networkconnections, including those to the Internet 200B; and softwarecomponents 228, including network application server software anddatabase software. Network signals 226 can employ any of a variety ofcommunication protocols, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, near fieldcommunication (“NFC”), Point-to-Point Protocol (“PPP”), High-Level DataLink Control (“HDLC”), etc., although other types of network signals 226are possible and are contemplated herein.

Virtualization layer 230 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers232; virtual storage 234; virtual networks 236, including virtualprivate networks; virtual applications and operating systems 238; andvirtual clients 240.

In one example, management layer 242 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning 244 provides dynamic procurement ofcomputing resources and other agricultural resources that are utilizedto perform tasks within the cloud computing environment. Finances 246provide cost tracking as computing and agricultural resources areutilized during operation of an agricultural implement and connected orrelated computer systems. In one example, these resources may includeapplication software licenses. Security 248 provides identityverification for cloud consumers and tasks, as well as protection fordata and other resources. User portal 250 provides access to the cloudcomputing environment for consumers and system administrators. Servicelevel management 252 provides cloud computing resource allocation andmanagement such that required service levels are met. Service levelagreement (“SLA”) planning and fulfillment 254 provide pre-arrangementfor, and procurement of, cloud computing resources for which a futurerequirement is anticipated in accordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 256 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment 200A may be utilized. Examples of workloadsand functions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation 258; software development and lifecycle management 260;troubleshooting 262; data analytics processing 264 via analytics module204; agricultural task processing 266; and a workload 268 to provideaccess to databases and nomograms to facilitate the computation and/orother handling of agricultural data. For example, the workload 268 mayprovide an application programming interface (“API”) to obtaininformation relating to those risks which may delay, prevent, or nullifyefficient planting.

The agricultural data module 202 can also work in tandem with ananalytics module 204 and/or user interface 210 to create moreagricultural data 208, manipulate existing agricultural data 208, and/ordisplay agricultural data 208. The analytics module 204, in particular,can facilitate (i) amalgamation; (ii) separation, (iii) calculation,(iv) prediction, (v) instruction relating to agricultural tasks, (vi)comparisons, (vii) conversions, (viii) designation, (ix) reevaluation,(x) replacement, and/or (xi) deletion: of/with agricultural data 208.The analytics module 208 can perform such functions automatically inresponse to receiving agricultural data 208 or after a user prompts theanalytics module 204 to perform a specific function.

The user interface 210, in particular, is how the user interacts withthe intelligent control 152 and modules contained therein. The userinterface 210 can be a digital interface, a command-line interface, agraphical user interface (“GUI”) 216, any other suitable way a user caninteract with a machine, or any combination thereof. For example, theuser interface 152 can include a combination of digital and/or analoginput/output devices or any other type of input/output device requiredto achieve a desired level of control and monitoring of the agriculturaldata 208 and/or agricultural tasks. Input(s) received from the userinterface 210 can be sent to a microcontroller to control operationalaspects of the intelligent control 152. Examples of input devices 212include computer mice, keyboards, touchscreens, knobs, dials, switches,buttons, etc. Examples of output devices include audio speakers 214,displays for graphical user interfaces 216, light emitting diode (LED)indicators, etc. In at least one embodiment, graphical user interfaces216 are capable of displaying agricultural data 208 sensed in real timeon a map.

FIG. 11 illustrates, for exemplary purposes only, a computerized systemthat can connect to a global positioning system (GPS) network 200C toenhance mapping and navigation 258 of a navigation system located anagricultural implement 110. GPS is owned by the United States and usessatellites to provide geolocation information to a GPS receiver. GPS,and other satellite-based radio-navigation systems, can be used forlocation positioning, navigation, tracking, and mapping.

More particularly, computerized information including that whichrepresents an actual drive path 270 for an associated geographic region272 can be communicated among several intelligent controls 152 in remotelocations. The tractor 100 and/or agricultural implement 110 can belocated within the geographic region 272.

The tractor 100 and/or agricultural implement 110 determine locationinformation based on receiving wireless location network signals 226from a GPS network 200C and captured sensor data (e.g., farming tractoraccelerometer data, soil moisture levels, soil chemical content, etc.)along the drive path 270 for at least a portion of the geographic region272. The drive path 270 includes a geographic path of the tractor 100and/or agricultural implement 110 when operating within the geographicregion 272. The drive path may include two or more sub-drive paths270A-270N. For example, a first sub-drive path 270A traverses thegeographic region 272 from left to right and a second sub-drive path270B traverses the geographic region 272 from right to left. Theintelligent control 152 of the tractor 100 and/or agricultural implement110 may monitor the drive path 270 (e.g., passively monitoring along apath taken by the tractor 100 and/or agricultural implement 110) or mayprovide the drive path 270 (e.g., where an agricultural prescriptionincludes control information to invoke operation of the tractor 100and/or agricultural implement 110 along the drive path 270). The drivepath 270 may be obtained by the intelligent control 152 in a variety ofways including one or more of determining a specific drive path inaccordance with the agricultural prescription, utilizing a predetermineddrive path (e.g., the drive path for geographic region 272 from a list),generating a random drive path, utilizing a previous drive pathassociated with geographic region 272 (e.g., obtaining a historicalsummary), and receiving the agricultural prescription that includescontrol information associated with the drive path 270. For example, theintelligent control 152 can utilize the drive path 270 from theagricultural prescription while a tractor 100 and tiller 110C aretilling the soil of at least a portion of the geographic region 272.

Having captured the sensor data, the intelligent control 152 andcommunications module 198 located therein can send, using, for example,Bluetooth wireless communication signals, the captured sensor data tothe agricultural implement 110. The intelligent control 152 andcommunications module 198 located therein can also send, utilizing, forexample, long-term evolution (LTE) wireless communication signals, thecaptured sensor data via the Internet 200B to a cloud-based network 200C(other networks are possible) with a cloud-based storage unit 222. Thecentral processing unit 192 associated with the intelligent control 152Nof the cloud-based storage unit 222 processes the captured sensor datato produce data records for storage in the memory 190 of the cloud-basedstorage unit 222. Alternatively, a removable memory of the intelligentcontrol 152N is utilized to temporarily store the captured sensor data.The removable memory is operably coupled to the cloud-based storage unit222 to facilitate transfer of the captured sensor data to the centralprocessing unit 192 of the cloud-based storage unit 222. For example,the removable memory device is directly interfaced to the cloud-basedstorage unit 222. As another example, the removal memory device isinterfaced to the tractor 100 and/or agricultural implement 110. Theintelligent control 152 of the tractor 100 and/or agricultural implement110 facilitates sending, via the networks 200, the captured sensor datato the cloud-based storage unit 222.

The intelligent control 152 of the tractor 100 and/or agriculturalimplement 110 can receive via user input devices 212 a request for ananalysis and generation of an agricultural prescription. The centralprocessing unit 192 and data analytics module 204 of the same or another(as shown at the right of FIG. 11) intelligent control 152 generateguidance based on the request and other desired characteristics (e.g., acrop list, a time frame, equipment availability, chemical availability,and soil management operational ranges available) of the agriculturalprescription for the geographic region 272. The intelligent control 152sends, via the networks 200, the guidance to the agricultural implement110. The central processing unit 192 of the agricultural implement 110obtains the data records for the geographic region 272 from thecloud-based storage unit 222 based on the guidance. The centralprocessing unit 192 and agricultural data module 204 may further obtainhistorical summaries with regards to the geographic region 272 based onthe guidance.

Having obtained the guidance, the data records, and/or the historicalsummaries, the central processing unit 192 and data analytics module 204of the intelligent control 152 produce an analysis based on the datarecords and/or the historical summaries. The central processing unit 192and data analytics module 204 of the agricultural implement 110processes the analysis in accordance with the guidance and/or thehistorical summaries to produce an analysis summary. The agriculturaldata module 202 of the intelligent control 152 associated with theagricultural implement 110 facilitates storage of the analysis summaryby the cloud-based storage unit 222 to enable subsequent recovery of thehistorical summaries that includes the analysis summary.

Having produced the analysis summary, the central processing unit 192and analytics module 204 of the intelligent control 152 process theanalysis summary in accordance with the guidance and the historicalsummaries to produce the agricultural prescription. The agriculturalprescription may further include a plurality of agricultural relatedtasks, where each step includes one or more agricultural tasks, and foreach agricultural task, one or more required preconditions to executethe agricultural task. Such steps may be executed by the centralprocessing unit 192 and agricultural task module 206 in parallel, inseries, and in a combination in accordance with the preconditions forexecution. The agricultural task to be performed an agricultural taskcan be any one or more of the following: (a) planting; (b) tilling; (c)baling; (d) harvesting; (e) spraying; (f) transporting; (g) cultivating;(h) harrowing; (i) plowing; (j) fertilizing; (k) broadcasting; (l)loading; and (m) unloading.

The preconditions for execution of the agricultural task includesrequired conditions to enable execution of the agricultural task (e.g.,when to execute the agricultural task) including one or more of acurrent date match, a current date within a date range, a time within atime range, a current data sensor value within a desired range (i.e., acurrent temperature within a temperature range), an actuator readinessstate, distance from a previously executed step (i.e., seed dispensingpopulation of seeds per acre), and elapsed time since a previouslyexecuted step). For example, a precondition for planting a short growingseed at a later date has occurred within a growing season.

Each agricultural task includes what to do and how to accomplish theagricultural task. As such, some agricultural tasks will includedispensing seed and/or other materials (i.e., a gas, a liquid, a slurry,a solid), how to dispense the material (i.e., distance betweendispensing points, distance between parallel dispensing tracks), collectsensor data, and manipulate other objects (e.g. management practicesincluding: performance of other agricultural tasks, avoidingobstructions, irrigation control, sunlight control, etc.). Liquids caninclude chemical compounds such as fertilizers and pesticides. Thepesticides include one or more of insecticides (e.g., insect killers),herbicides (e.g., weed killers), and fungicides (e.g., to kill orinhibit fungi). The solids include one or more of seed, fertilizerpowder, and manure. The seeds include a plurality of hybrid seed typesand may vary from growing season to growing season.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing multiple units in a field 274. Asshown in FIG. 12, a field 274 may include a first tug unit 146 attachedto a first tiller 100C, a second tug unit 146 attached to a secondtiller 100C, and a tractor 100 attached to a tractor planter 110A.Furthermore, there can a truck 276 towing a storage bin 100D shownoutside the field 274. The first and second tug units 164, as well asthe tractor 100 are performing an operation within the field. The use ofthe multiple vehicles in the field at the same time will reduce theamount of time to complete the operations.

In order to ensure that tractors 100, tug units 146, and/or a truck 276do not overlap one another or otherwise run into one another, thevehicles emit network signals 226, which can be communicated andtransmitted between each other. The network signals 226 can include avast amount of information. For example, the network signals 226 cancommunicate the location of the units relative to one another as well asrelative to the location in the field 274. The network signals 226 canalso communicate any alerts, warnings, status updates, or other actionsthat may be occurring. For example, alerts can be sent where a unit islow on material, a unit is damaged, an obstruction is detected, ageneral status of soil conditions, trash build up, weed concentration,and/or the like is updated, etc.

Furthermore, FIG. 12 shows a tower 224 emitting a network signal 226.The tower 224, which could be one of many towers around the field, canprovide additional location determining aspects for the field 274. Theheight and/or position of the tower 224 may increase the efficiency ofthe communication between the actors in the field. The tower 224 canalso communicate to another field or to a master module located at adifferent location as to the status, alerts, warnings, or other dataobtained by the vehicles in the field. In addition, it is contemplatedthat the agricultural data 208 from the network signals 226 can bestored for future purposes. For example, as the units operate in thefield 274, they can obtain data, such as field conditions to preparefuture planting schedules and/or maps.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of an example of a unit identification module 278for use with the system including multiple vehicles and/or units, suchas those disclosed in FIG. 12. The unit identification module 278 can belocated on the tractor 100 of FIG. 1 and/or included with theintelligent control 152 of FIG. 7. The unit identification module 278shown includes information for identifying the units. For example, inFIG. 13 the unit one identifier is shown in box 280, unit two is shownin box 282, and unit N is shown in box 284, where N is used to indicatethe total (any) number of units in the field 274. Implementidentification for the tractor containing the unit identification module278 can be shown in box 286 and vehicle identification can be shown inbox 288. Information for each of the units can be shown in boxes 290,292, 294, 296, 298. Such information may include, but is not limited to,the status of the unit and/or implements connected thereto, location ofthe units, alerts or warnings associated with the units, fieldconditions, seed conditions, or the like. Such information may includethe rate of planting, the amount of down force provided for eachimplement, the soil conditions, seed conditions, amount of remainingmaterial, type of spraying, amount of spraying, moisture content, orgenerally any other type of information that may be useful for any ofthe agricultural based operations, as disclosed. In addition, theinformation boxes may include warnings or alerts that can flash orotherwise provide notice to the unit identification module 278. Theamount and type of information disclosed in the unit identificationmodule 278 is generally limitless. Furthermore, the unit identificationmodule 278 or the system in general may include memory for storing data.The data could be recalled by the unit identification module 278, suchas in a future planting or harvesting year to indicate choices or otherinformation.

Safety elements can be included, such as redundant and independentsafety systems that prevent the units from colliding and/or doubleplanting areas in the field 274. These can include, but are not limitedto, vehicle-mounted emergency stop buttons, safety handheld remotes,autonomous lockout, as well as other lockout mechanisms. For example, abattery-powered, safety handheld remote transmitter can be provided witheach unit. The safety handheld remote includes an emergency stop buttonthat allows an operator to perform an emergency stop remotely over alimited distance, as long as the remote is within communication range ofthe tractor 100. The safety handheld remote emergency stop button haltsonly the unit controlled by the remote. A run/pause switch that switchesthe units between autonomous and manual (non-autonomous) operation canalso included, in embodiments where autonomous units are used.

Using the technical components of FIGS. 1-13, the present invention isthus able to provide an operator of an agricultural vehicle with a morefacile user experience, said experience perhaps being best exemplifiedby the various illustrations of FIGS. 14-16 and aspects of the graphicaluser interface 216. In some embodiments, the operator is only prompted(or even able) to provide input for agricultural tasks where it ishighly desirable and/or necessary.

For example, as the operator travels via tractor 100 through a field274, the user is able to view agricultural data 208 in real-time beforethe agricultural data 208 or aspects thereof are converted, stored,and/or displayed as historical data. As shown in FIG. 14, a universal,mapped view 216A shows areas (represented with solid black fill) whichhave recently been worked (e.g. tilled, planted, fertilized, etc.) bythe agricultural implement 110. If an aspect of the agricultural and/orcomputerized system becomes unavailable and prevents live data frombeing displayed on a map, the computerized system will provide a meansfor tracking as much data as is available before the aspect becomesavailable again. For example, and with respect to FIG. 15, there canexist a separate, adjacent display which shows a native view 216B oflive data while the aspect of the system (e.g. an

Internet connection, GPS signal, etc.) remains unavailable. Once theunavailable aspect becomes available again, and depending upon theembodiment on which the present invention is implemented, theintelligent control 152 of the computerized system will then determinehow best to create a harmonized view 216C wherein agricultural data 208associated with the live feed—mapped view 216A can be combined with datacollected during periods of unavailability and associated with nativeview 216B.

So that the user can gauge whether aspects of the system areunavailable, there can exist a visual status indicator 216D on thedisplay which may communicate one or more aspects of the system areavailable. In FIGS. 14 and 16, the visual status indicator 216Dindicates the differential GPS system is available and thus thegraphical user interface 216 displays only live data and a universal,mapped view 216A. In FIG. 15, the visual status indicator is replacedwith an alert 216E, indicating the differential GPS system is notcurrently available.

The graphical user interface 216 can also provide the user the abilityto select actions 216F, via input devices 212 (such as touch screencontrols), which allows (e.g. via modules 202, 204, 206) for navigationof the computerized system and/or for the agricultural system to takeperform certain agricultural tasks. Similarly, safety controls 216Gallow the operator is able to engage safety elements on the agriculturalimplement 110.

Operation

Particularly beneficial methods for viewing historical and real-time,native and external, geospatial and non-geospatial agricultural data canbe carried out using those technical components and/or computerizedsystems described above.

During operation, agricultural sensors (e.g., seed sensor(s) 168, liquidfertilizer sensor(s) 171, alternator sensor(s) 177, temperaturesensor(s) 178, vacuum sensor(s) 186, and the like) of the agriculturalimplement 110 can sense agricultural characteristics in real-time.

Agricultural data 208 is automatically generated by the intelligentcontrol 152 of the agricultural implement 110 and includes numbersand/or text identifying said agricultural characteristics. Theagricultural data 208 can be geospatial and/or non-geospatial, dependingon whether a geographic location of the agricultural implement can bedetermined, such as through the use of a global positioning system (GPS)receiver.

As the agricultural data 208 is created, it can be stored in variouslocations, including the memory 190 of the intelligent control 152and/or other storage devices 222, and given a designation, such as livedata, historical data, temporary data, incomplete data, etc. Storedand/or live agricultural data 208 can be communicated between remoteagricultural implements 110 in real time or on an as needed basis, atall times retaining the appropriate designation. The communicationsmodule 198 is typically the primary means through which the intelligentcontrol 152 is able to establish a network connection (e.g. a connectionto the Internet) and indicate when network connections have been lost.The communications module 198 and agricultural data 202 can worktogether such that, while maintaining a network connection, agriculturaldata 208 is stored a storage device remote of the agricultural implement110 (e.g. a cloud based storage system, a database server 220,intelligent controls of tractors 100 and/or other agriculturalimplements 110, etc.) and while not maintaining the network connection,a storage device local to the agricultural implement 110 is utilized.Agricultural data 208 collected during periods where a networkconnection is lost can later be uploaded to a remote storage device viathe network at a time when the network connection can again beestablished.

Secondary agricultural implements 110 can pair to a primary implement110 such that agricultural data 208 and/or agricultural tasks are sharedin real-time. This type of pairing might be particularly beneficialwhere implements 110 are remotely located and a cloud-based computingnetwork 200A is used. Said benefits of pairing implements under thesecircumstances include, for example, reducing errors among several setsof data. The sharing of tasks can provide guidelines for how to completethe selected agricultural task, instructions to actuate components ofthe agricultural implements at specific times, the tracking ofperformance progress of selected agricultural task(s), the status oftasks, and the like. The sharing of tasks in some embodiments will allowfor manual input from one or more implements 110 with appropriatepermissions, and could allow for, for example, manually marking selectedagricultural task(s) complete. Where manual input is allowed, it may beparticularly beneficial to prevent the deletion or overwriting ofagricultural data which has already been communicated and/or stored.Still, in some other embodiments, deleting and/or overwritingagricultural tasks may be warranted. Manual input might be allowed, forexample, on device(s) which have been designated as master devices.

The sharing of data among partner agricultural implements can result incertain implements 110 within the same field 274 sharing agriculturaldata 208 which includes instructions (e.g. drive path(s) 270) from asingle tractor 100 and/or implement 110 which relate only to theperformance of particular actions 216F. These implements 110 mightreceive only limited data and/or tasks in part because theircapabilities of communication are limited (e.g., a connection to theInternet 200B is not possible). Yet, on the other hand, if it is notdesirable to have implements which cannot connect to the Internet 200B,access to agricultural tasks can be denied if a connection to a networkis lost.

Depending on default and/or user-selected settings, the agriculturaldata module 202 and analytics module 204 of the intelligent control 152will work together to intuitively show aspects of the agricultural data208 via graphical user interface 216. For example, during periods ofcomplete availability, the graphical user interface 216 might show whichareas in the field 274 the tractor 100 and agricultural implement 110are being worked, have already been worked, were not able to be worked,still need to be worked, and/or will later be worked, regardless ofwhether those areas are/were intended to be worked specifically by thetractor 100 and agricultural implement 110 combination on which theintelligent control 152 and graphical user interface 216 are located.Agricultural data 208 values associated with population rates and/orexpected yield for a particular geographic location and/or region can bedisplayed through a universal, mapped view 216A, as exemplified in FIG.14.

The analytics module 204 in particular will perform variouscalculations, comparisons, and/or checks to consider which portions ofthe temporary data and/or historical data are compatible and can besimultaneously shown. Where gaps in the data exist, the analytics module204 may even use other historical and/or predictive data and/orsimultaneously predict data to fill said gaps such that a coherentdisplay is generated. Other historical data can be based on real datagathered during a previous agricultural cycle.

The agricultural task module 206 will interact with the agriculturaldata module 202 and the analytics module 204 to instruct variousnon-software, such as mechanical and/or electrical components, of theagricultural implement 110 to take certain actions. The agriculturaltask module 206 can thus be much more reliant on user input, via inputdevices 212. However it should still be appreciated that not all actionsthrough which the agricultural task module 206 are partially responsiblefor require user input. For example, the agricultural task module 206can automatically instruct the agricultural implement to plant seedand/or change course where the agricultural data 208 and analyticsmodule 204 indicate it would be desirable to do so. The reverse ordercan also be true: namely, anticipated agricultural data 208 can beupdated during operation of the agricultural implement 110 based on achange to a path of travel, a task to be performed, or a weathercondition, regardless of whether the change was necessitated by userinput. In yet another example, the analytics module 204 and agriculturaltask module 206 can work together to (i) calculate, using theagricultural data 208 and/or other sensed data, an output force capableof being automatically applied by an actuator of the agriculturalimplement and (ii) instruct said output force to be applied by means ofactuation, respectively.

Aspects of the present invention can still apply even where theagricultural sensors (e.g., seed sensor(s) 168, liquid fertilizersensor(s) 171, alternator sensor(s) 177, temperature sensor(s) 178,vacuum sensor(s) 186, and the like) of the agricultural implement 110are the only unavailable aspects of the agricultural system. When anability to sense at least one agricultural characteristic is lost, theagricultural data 208 can be designated as being collected during a timeperiod where a sensor has failed or faltered. Where safety is a concernand/or sensors and/or other components falter, are known to causeissues, and/or are simply not necessary for operation of a particularagricultural task, the operator can manually discontinue operation of(e.g. shutoff) a sensor and/or other component on the agriculturalimplement 110. For example, agricultural implements 110 can include atransport configuration and/or planting configuration, and one or moreaspects of navigation systems, transmitters, sensors, and/or theintelligent control 152 thereon can be idled to conserve power and/orother resources during transport (or for virtually any other reason).

Navigation of the agricultural implement 110 can be accomplished throughvarious functions unique to several different modules of the intelligentcontrol 152 or can be primarily driven by a separate navigation systemon the intelligent control 152 which works closely with thecommunications module 152.

During periods of partial unavailability, the agricultural data module202 and analytics module 204 will automatically, intuitively, and atleast temporarily separate incompatible natively and externallygenerated agricultural data 208. It can be particularly advantageous todisplay these types of agricultural data 208 within the same view suchthat the user may simultaneously see the same. The native view 216B neednot comprise geo-spatial agricultural data 208. The native view 216 ispreferably wide enough to show a full planter worth of visual data. Thisinformation is drawn and stored in a manner which allows the user to seereal time data as it appears, and also to scroll back in time to thestart of their planting without location data. When multiple locationdata losses occur, a gap is introduced into this historical data toindicate a break in continuity of the data.

Viewing these separate, adjacent views will allow the operator theopportunity to recognize that some aspect of the system has becomeunavailable or has outright failed. Visual indicators 216D and alerts216E will help the operator identify particular problems. For example,in FIG. 15 this has occurred because a geographic location of theagricultural implement could not be determined. Other examples of alerts216E will include indication of sensors and/or components of theagricultural implement 110 not working, loss of a network connection, aportion of a field is believed to have been planted more or less thanonce, and the like. In the most extreme example where almost everyaspect of the agricultural implement 110 is unavailable, theagricultural data 208 might simply be designated “error” or the displaymight simply show only historical and/or predictive data. the historicaldata and at least some aspects of the anticipated agricultural data.

Frequently, land is worked in long, straight stretches. Previous passescan be used as guides for future passes. For example, FIG. 16 showswhere an agricultural implement 110 which has lost a paired/sharedconnection is predicted to plant based on operation of the controlsystem shown in FIG. 17.

The control system 300 can be implemented on one or more implements 110which are initially paired and/or connected 302 so as to share 304 data.The sharing of data can be by way of a sharing playthrough, which cancomprise a package of layered agricultural data 208, tasks, notes,instructions, and the like. The sharing playthrough is understood tohave at least some connectivity connotation associated therewith, suchas a direct wireless connection, so as to share data in real-time and/orcontinuously. The contents of such a sharing playthrough, i.e. thelayers of data therewithin, can be manually selected or canautomatically depend on tasks to be accomplished or whether certaincomponents of the one or more agricultural implements 110 are presentlyoperational.

The control system 300 will continuously operate until a connection oroperability of a feature is lost 306. These checks for availability ofcomponents can be periodic, continuous, or manually requested. After aconnection is lost, the control system 300 will preferably utilize theagricultural data module 202 and analytics module 204 of the intelligentcontrol 152 to analyze 308 known agricultural data to predict 310 whereplanting will or has occurred. This can be done, for example, byfactoring in the last known velocity, heading, and width of anotheragricultural implement 110. Other factors, such as previous plantingpasses, ground elevation, obstacle locations, and the like can alsoinform this calculation. The planter with limited availability thenrelies on the data that is “played through” from another agriculturalimplement for continued operation until a connection or operability ofsome other feature is then reestablished 312, at which point normaloperations may resume. Subsequent checks for (re-)availability can alsobe periodic, continuous, or manually requested. Manual overrides tothrottle and/or discontinue the sharing of data can be strategicallyused by farmers who know there are certain portions of the field 274where outages or latencies are likely to occur.

If availability is not reestablished 312, the process may repeat itselfwith either old and/or newly acquired aggregated 308 agricultural datawith additional predictions to be made. Upon reestablishment 312,temporarily stored agricultural data acquired by the implement 110native to the connectivity problem can be harmonized 314 with theuniversally acquired data, and preferably displayed within universalview 216A. During periods of total availability, the universal view 216Awill preferably display more than one implement within the field 274,and so as to depict that which is shown in FIG. 12.

When the agricultural data 208 is aggregated in real-time, the predictedarea will turn to planted area, or not if appropriate. During periods ofunavailability, a universal view 216A will remain relatively constant,while remaining portions of the graphical user interface 216, includingthe native view 216B, will vary more throughout implement operation.These varied aspects of the agricultural data 208 will be designated ashaving been collected during periods of unavailability and will bestored as temporary data. When the agricultural implement 110 returns toa more complete period of availability and after at least one aspect ofthe agricultural data 208 becomes available again, the module 202 andanalytics module 204 will automatically and intuitively harmonize theagricultural data 208. Such harmonization may eliminate the need for,and even merit the dissolution of, the simultaneous and adjacent viewsshown in FIG. 15. Where the need for the simultaneous and adjacent viewsshown in FIG. 15 occurs, the temporary data associated with the nativeview 216B and the historical data associated with the mapped view 216Acan be aggregated or “stitched” together such that the graphical userinterface 216 can present said data to the operator within a singleharmonized view 216C. The harmonized view 216C is substantially similarto the universal view 216A except the harmonized view 216C willintuitively indicate that at least some of the agricultural data 208 hasbeen collected during the period(s) of unavailability, thus maintaininga record of which portions relate to the native, temporary data andwhich portions relate to the universal data. Thus, if for whateverreason it is desirable to view and/or later separate these separatetypes of data, this can be easily accomplished.

It should be contemplated that there will exist at least a fewembodiments wherein, perhaps because the certainty of events whichoccurred during periods of unavailability is high (e.g. calculatedconfidence levels are close to 100% and/or verification is manuallyprovided by an operator) compatible portions of the temporary data canbe semi- or fully-converted into historical data.

It is to be understood the present invention can be configured such thatthe control system of the present invention and computerized componentscapable of carrying out such improved methods can be located on any one,a subset of, or every agricultural implement 110 working in a field 274.Such control systems 300 can be configured to automatically beginoperation or cease operation regardless whether an aspect of a firstimplement stops working, an aspect of a second implement stops working,or an aspect of a subsequent implement thereafter. In particular, thepresent invention can help mitigate problems associated with acomputerized system of an implement 110 that stops transmitting orreceiving signals, there exists problems in the cloud, or somecombination thereof. The control system 300 can thus become moreessential as problems compound and/or if there are more than twoplanters (e.g., fifty smaller bots engaged in fleet farming). In otherwords, and as mentioned above, the present invention is remainscompatible with both autonomous and manned vehicles, predictivelearning, and path planning.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present inventionaccomplishes at least all of the stated objectives.

The present disclosure is not to be limited to the particularembodiments described herein. The following claims set forth a number ofthe embodiments of the present disclosure with greater particularity.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computerized method for use with anagricultural implement comprising: sensing agricultural characteristicswith a first agricultural implement; communicating, in real-time,agricultural data associated with the agricultural characteristicsbetween a first agricultural implement and a second agriculturalimplement; in times where at least one aspect of the second agriculturalimplement becomes unavailable: interpolating, with a non-transitorycomputer readable medium on the first agricultural implement,anticipated agricultural data associated with the second agriculturalimplement; and relying, at least in part, on a sharing playthroughincluding at least some of the anticipated agricultural data forcontinued operation of the second agricultural implement.
 2. Thecomputerized method of claim 1 wherein the non-transitory computerreadable medium is located on the first agricultural implement and theanticipated agricultural data is shared with the second agriculturalimplement.
 3. The computerized method of claim 1 wherein theagricultural data is shared from the first agricultural implement to thesecond agricultural implement and the interpolating non-transitorycomputer readable medium is located on the second agriculturalimplement.
 4. The computerized method of claim 1 wherein interpolationof the anticipated agricultural data is based on previously communicatedagricultural data and/or agricultural data from a previous season. 5.The computerized method of claim 1 further comprising planning a path oftravel for the second agricultural implement.
 6. The computerized methodof claim 1 further comprising accepting a proposed path of travel forthe second agricultural implement.
 7. The computerized method of claim 1further comprising determining a geographic location of the secondagricultural implement.
 8. The computerized method of claim 1 furthercomprising updating the anticipated agricultural data during operationof the agricultural implement based on a change to a path of travel, atask to be performed, or a weather condition.
 9. The computerized methodof claim 1 further comprising establishing a connecting the first andsecond agricultural implements via a network and/or pairing the firstand second agricultural implements.
 10. The computerized method of claim9 further comprising losing the network connection at the secondagricultural implement.
 11. The computerized method of claim 10 furthercomprising: while maintaining the network connection at the secondagricultural implement: storing historical data on a storage deviceremote of the second agricultural implement; while not maintaining thenetwork connection at the second agricultural implement: storingtemporary data on a storage device local to the second agriculturalimplement.
 12. The computerized method of claim 11 further comprising,after re-establishing the network connection at the second agriculturalimplement, uploading the temporary data to the storage device remote ofthe agricultural implement.
 13. The computerized method of claim 11wherein the storage device remote of the second agricultural implementis: (a) associated with a cloud-based storage system; (b) connected to adatabase server; or (c) located on the first agricultural implementand/or one or more distinct agricultural implements.
 14. Thecomputerized method of claim 1 further comprising losing an ability tosense at least one agricultural characteristic at the secondagricultural implement.
 15. The computerized method of claim 1 whereinthe first and/or second agricultural implements are fully autonomous.16. A computerized system for use with an agricultural implementcomprising: a navigation system; a transmitter capable of employing atleast one communication protocol and connecting to a network; a sensorfor sensing one or more agricultural characteristics; and anon-transitory computer readable medium comprising a processor, amemory, an operating system, and a compiler, wherein the non-transitorycomputer readable medium is configured to: communicate agricultural datarelating to one or more agricultural characteristics to a plurality ofagricultural implements; and in times where at least one aspect of anexternal agricultural implement becomes unavailable: interpolate, with anon-transitory computer readable medium native to the agriculturalimplement, anticipated agricultural data associated with the externalagricultural implement; and provide a sharing playthrough that includesat least some of the anticipated agricultural data directly from thenative agricultural implement to the external agricultural implement.17. The computerized system of claim 16 wherein the non-transitorycomputer readable medium is further configured to: automaticallyanticipate where outages or latencies will occur and in response, usinga sharing playthrough to rely on agricultural data collected by anon-transitory computer radium medium of the external implement.
 18. Asoftware application capable of being executed by a non-transitorycomputer readable medium associated with an agricultural implement, saidnon-transitory computer readable medium comprising a processor, amemory, an operating system, and a compiler, said software applicationcomprising: one or more programmatic modules configured to: communicateagricultural data relating to one or more agricultural characteristicsto a plurality of agricultural implements; and in times where at leastone aspect of an external agricultural implement becomes unavailable:interpolate, with a non-transitory computer readable medium native tothe agricultural implement, anticipated agricultural data associatedwith the external agricultural implement; and provide a sharingplaythrough that includes at least some of the anticipated agriculturaldata directly from the native agricultural implement to the externalagricultural implement.
 19. The software application of claim 18 whereinthe one or more programmatic modules are further configured to plan apath of travel for one or more of the plurality of agriculturalimplements.
 20. The software application of claim 18 wherein the one ormore programmatic modules are further configured to geotag theagricultural data and the geotagged agricultural data includesidentification of the agricultural implement upon which the one or moreagricultural characteristics are sensed.